A second-half injury to Brian Graham, who seemed to fall awkwardly on the solid surface, suggested he might have had a point.

McNamara has been more worried about his kids suffering burn-out than freezing up and left Ryan Gauld on the bench along with new recruit Farid El Aragui, with the pair coming on late.

It might have been Baltic in the Highlands but it didn’t take long for the game to heat up with Billy Mckay pouncing with a typically predatory strike five minutes in.

Gary Warren nodded Danny Williams’ corner goalward and as keeper Rado Cierzniak flapped, Mckay hooked home. Free headers were a theme of the day and United struck back just four minutes later when Watson was left unmarked to bullet a header past Dean Brill. From that stage it was helter skelter stuff. Graham missed a sitter when he thumped the post and Cierzniak brilliantly kept out McKay’s header.

Caley Thistle took control after the break and Gary Warren headed wide before Graeme Shinnie won a penalty after John Souttar hung out a leg in the box.

Cierzniak pulled off a superb stop to beat out Ross and then it was the home side who survived a few scares.

Chris Erskine hit the post from Gary Mackay-Steven’s cut back and then GMS could have had a penalty when Warren seemed to pull him back.

But the Caley Jags finished stronger and both gaffers were just relieved to get out in one piece.

Inverness boss John Hughes wasn’t going to slaughter Ross for his spot-kick miss.

Yogi said: “I love the boy to bits and I feel for him because he has been a star since I came to the club, in terms of the way he gets on the ball and uses it.

“It’s Nick’s wee turn that slots Shinnie in for the penalty. And he’s only going to get better.

“If there is anybody in need of a goal it’s Nick and we were a bit reluctant to take him off because of that. He’ll take it on the chin and hopefully come back as a match winner next week.”

Hughes has yet to win at home and but the manager is not going to lose heart.

He insisted his dressing room has the character to turn it round.

Hughes said: “Even in defeat over the last three games or so, the boys have been magnificent.

“We’re short on bodies, we’re putting round pegs in small holes.

“So there are plenty of positives. We were good when we were at it and we were entertaining. I’m seeing the work on the training pitch coming out in games.”

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CALEY keeper Dean Brill was badly at fault for what turned out to be the match winner, with Ryan Gauld also scoring a cracking opener in the match at Tannadice. Read Scott McDermott's match report and watch the video highlights.